JIHAD: This transcript from Nightline is worth reading. Here’s what Daniel Pipes said about the Jihad-as-meaning-spiritual-struggle argument:

What’s wrong, Chris, is that it’s a fabrication. Jihad has historically meant, almost always one thing-which is expanding the territories ruled by Muslims through armed warfare. That’s what it’s meant. Now I’m happy to see a development occur whereby it means something more spiritual. But we have to start by acknowledging that that’s the real meaning of the word, the historic meaning of the word, the traditional meaning of the word, and we can’t ignore it. And this young man is ignoring it.

What’s funny is that all the people who were after Bush for using the word “crusade” seem to think that it’s simplistic to criticize the use of the word “jihad.” In truth, the peaceful meaning of “crusade” is more well-established.

And I know other people have already noted this, but what if we had a fundamentalist Christian speaking at a Harvard commencement on the importance of the “crusade” concept? You know, like someone from “Campus Crusade for Christ.” Well, forget the “what if.” It’s basically unimaginable. Religious diversity and acceptance can only go so far, after all.